Nutcracker



June 24, 1930. A; DEM'ER 1,767,917

NUTCRACKER vvFiled June 15, 1928 4 Sheets-Sheet 1 IIUIIII' Wil cx, N

Q a F l 1 n) I 1 Q w @I i y lQ June Z4, 1930. A. DEMI-:K 1,767,917

NUTCRACKER Filed Jane 15. 1928 4 sheets-sheet 2 INVENTQR WITNESSWAWW ATTORNEY A. DEMEK NUTCRACKER June 24 1930.

Filed June l5, 1928 4 Sheets-Sheet INVENTOR ATTORNEY I ATTORNEY WITNESSWWZ June 24, 193.05 A, DE'MEK 1,767,917

NUTCRAGKER Filed June 1 5, 1928 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 Hmroj Hemel INVENTOR Patented ,lune 24, 1930 AMBROZ DEMEK, OF TEXAS v NUTCRACKER `Application led yJune 15,

This invention relates to nut cracking machlnes, and embodies amo-ngst other features,

means for singly conveying'the nuts from or controlled incident to the turning of a` hand wheel. f n

The nature andadvantages ofthe invention will be better understood when the following detailed description isV read vin .con-v nection with the accompanying drawings, the invention residing in the construction, combinaton, and larrangement, of parts as claimed.y

In the drawing forming part of this'application, like numerals of f reference indicate similar parts in the several views, and wherein:

Figure 1 is a side elevation of the machine.

Figure 2is atop plan view. Figure 3v is a longitudinal sectional view. Figure 4 is an end elevation. Y Figure 5 is a fragmentary vertical sectional view through the hopper and its associated parts. f The machine forming the. subject` matter of the present invention comprises a base 10, and rising from this base are spaced bearings 11 and 12 respectively, the latter being arranged in alinement, and accommodating the cracking bars or elements, which are susceptible of movement toward and away from each other'for thevpurpose abovey mentioned. One of these cracking bars include two sections indicated at 13 and 13',

the sections being arranged'inend to endl 192s. serien Nb. 285,699.

also provided with a stop pin 133 which cooperates with the bearing 11 to limit thev movement ofthe section 13 in one direction. The'adjacent extremities of these bars are properly shaped to accommodate a nut, when the bars are moved toward each other, in active relation, and the manner in whichv these bars are moved toward and away from each other will be hereinafter described. Rising from the base 10 at a suitable point between the bearings above mentioned are spaced parallel standards 15, -journaled between which isa transversely disposed shaft 16. This shaft supports a tray 17 in which the nuts are singlyy received and cracked, and this tray 17 receives the adjacent eX- tremities of the cracking bars 13 and 1'4 respectively.k The tray is normally maintained in a horizontal position fork the purpose just mentioned by means of coiled spring 18, the latter having one end secured tothel adjacent standard 15, and its other end lconnected to a pin projecting from the shaft 16. Supported by the bearing 12'ar'e` suitable brackets 19 which are designed to4 support a platform,l and this platform is provided with a nut receiving opening 21 which is disposed immediately above the tray 17.

Reposingupontheplatform 2O is a hopper' 22 .which is adapted to contain the nuts to be cracked and the ynuts from the hopper are singly conveyed tothe opening 21 in a manner to be presently described. A slide valve 23 is utilized for this purpose, and operates -uponvthe platform 20 through the hopper 22, and the valve is provided with an opening 24, which conveys a nut'from the hopper to a position directly above the opening '21 in the platform, thus allowing the nut to gravitate through said openings into the tray 17.V The valve 23 is `secured at one end to`v a bolt 25 which rises from the cracking bar 13, and subsequently, the valve 23 lmoves simultaneously with the bar 1.3.

Also supportedv upon the base 10 is a bearing 26, in which is j ournaled the main operating shaft 27,and while this shaft may be Yrotated by motor or by any lother suitable manner, I preferably employ a large hand wheel 28 for this purpose. The shaft 27 supports what I term a four-point cani 29, and eccentrically connected with this cam is a connecting rod 30, which is associated with the cracking bari' 13 to reciprocate the latter. Fixed upon the shaft 27 is a cam 31, and this cam is disposed to engage a vertically disposed lever 32 pivoted upon the base 10 and move said lever from one direction. Connected with this lever and arranged horizontally above the base 10 is a telescopic rod, the section 33 of which is associated with Ythe lever 32, and. receives the section 311. This section has itsfree end connected with an arm 35 whichk is horizontally disposed and pivoted at a point between 'its ends upon a standard 36 rising from the Abase 10 at a point adjacent the bearing 12.

The arm is of a length to pass Abeyond the adjacent endvof the cracking bar lei, and is utilized to movethis bar .in the direction of the bar 13 for the purposes above mentioned. A pin 37 projects Vtrom the section 34 ot the telescopio rod and interposed between this pin and the adjacent end of the section 33 is a coiled spring 33 which Jfunctions in the capacity7 of a cushioning velement. From the construction thus Jfar described, it is obvious, that when the shaft 27 is rotated, the crackingbar 13is moved in the direction of its cooperating bar 14, and

through the tray 17. y

lncidentto the rotation of the shaft 27,

the cam 31 contacts the lever 32 and moves the telescopic rod longitudinallyot the base 10,

thereby imparting rocking movement to the arm 35, which engages the adjacent end of the cracking bar 14, moving the latter in the direction of the bar 13. 'lt is ofcourse understood, that the valve 23`is simultaneously operated under these conditions, and as above stated, functions to singly deliver the nuts from the hopper to .the tray 17. The valveconveys, a nut tothe tray 17 incident to the movement of the cracking bars 13Y and 111 respectively' away from each other, and' when these bars are moving to' ward eachother, the valve is moved through the hopperto receive another nut. The cracking ,bar '14; has associated therewith a spring which returns the bar toits normal position subsequent to the cracking 'oi the nut and also afterthis bar has been released rtrom "a pivoted pawl Ll0 which holds the bar 14e stationary while the nut is being cracked. For this purpose, the cracking bar 14 is provided with teeth L11, which are engaged by fa pawl 10, the latter being pivoted as at i2 'upon the' adjacentbearing 12, and held in V1t is to be observed vbase 10, and 'the manner in which this tray 10 is tilted will be hereinafter described.

However, it is to be noted that the means `for tilting the tray in a manner just described, is also utilized to alect a release oiy the barv la 'troni the pivoted pawl Zl0.

For this purpose, l employ a verticallyk disposed lever Af which is fulcrumed upon A`the bearing 12 and thisy lever is disposed directly in advance of the pivoted pawl 40.

A link L15 is terminally connected with the upper end oi thisvlever 414 and also with the rocking shaft 16, which vis journaled between the standards 15. lt isthe rocking 01"' this shaft 16 that results in the tilting of the tray 17 Vfor the purpose mentioned, and it is manifest thatwhenthe shaft is rocked in one direction, the lever #la is moved against the pawl .4.0, thereby releasing ,the cracking bar 1% and allowing the latterto be returned to normal position under .the influence o1 its spring 39. rojecting from fthe rocking shaft 10 is an extension 16 which is arranged immediately above a bar L1-7 which is disposed above the base in parallelism therewith, vand which bar is iulcrumed at an appropriate point in its length, and a `su1table bracket 48 which rises from the base 10.

to accommodate a roller L19, and the yroller is disposed beneath` the shaft 27 to be engagedby acam 50 supported by the shaft.

ranged. so that ai'teithe cam 31 has performed its function in moving the kcracking Vbar 14% in the direction of the .bar 13, the

cam 50 is brought into use, contacting the roller 49 to tilt the bar '17, moving the free end thereof' in an upward direction. W hen the bar i7 is tilted in this manner, it engages the extension I16and thereby rocks the shaft 16, which simultaneously tilts the tray 17 Yto distribute its contents, and-also release` the cracking bar l0. roller 49, the spring 13 rocks the shaft'in a reverse direction, thereby returningthe tray 17 to normal position. rEhe extension 4:6 remains in contact with the adjacent end of ,the bar i7 and thereby depresses this bar under the circumstances moving the bar from the pivotcdnpawl /17 to its normal position. Y .Y Y

-Arranged at one endet the oase 10* is a lcurved arnrl, w1 ich is bifurcated as at that the cam 50 is arlas the cam 50 is moved awaylfrom the, Y

52, and pivoted between the separated por- Y tions deiined by said bifurcation is alever 53. Connecting theuper end of this lever with anagitatingY memberll is a link 55,

so that when the lever actuated,` the agitating member is reciprocated through the hopper 22V above the slidirng'y valve The lower end of the lever 53 is curved and supports a roller 56, the latter being ,dise if posed to be engaged by the foiii"point cam 29m ya manner to oscillate this lever for the purpose mentioned. A spring 57 has one end connected to the arm l, and its other section, andlis provided ywith a longitudinal slot 58, while the sides of themember also are roughened as at-5`9, so thatfthe said member will operate ei'hciently. Manifestly, have devised a machine of the class in question, whichV is not only simple in construction, but also very eflicient in operation, and by means of which large quantities ofnuts can be cracked in quick order, the nuts being singly conveyedto the tray in which they are cracked, and subsequently disposed into a suitable receptacle supported on the base of the machine. Y

While it is believed that from the foregoing description, the nature and advantages of the invention will be readily apparent, I desire to have it understood that Iv do not limit myself to what is herein shown and described, and that such changes may be resorted to when desired asfall within the scope of what is claimed.

What I claim is l. A nut cracking machiner including a tray, nut cracking bars capable of movement toward and away from eachother through said tray, means for conveying nuts singly to the tray, means for operating said bars, means for holding one of said bars immovable in its active position, said tray being mounted fer tilting movement, and means for tilting the tray as and simultaneously effect a release of'said bar.

2. A nut cracking machine including a tray, aA hopper, means for singlyV conveying the nuts from the hopper to the tray, nutcracking bars capablegof movement toward and away from each other through said tray, means for operating said'lbars, means for holding one of said bars immovable in its active position, said trayl being mounted for tilting` movement, yieldable means normally holding the tray in horizontal position, and means for tilting said tray and simultaneously effect a release ,of said bar.

3. A nut cracking machine including a tray, a hopper, means for singly conveying the nuts from the hopper to the tray, nut cracking bars capable of movement toward and away from each other through the tray, means for holding oneof said bars stationary in an active position, meaiis for operating said bars, said tray being mounted for tilting movement, means for tilting said tray,vand means actuated from the last mentioned means to release said stationaryk bar incident to the tilting of said tray.

4L. A nut cracking mach-ine including a tray, a hopper, a slide valve operating through the hopper and singly conveying the nuts therefrom to said tray, nut cracking bars capable of movement toward and away from each other, through said tray, means forxoperatingsaid bars, an agltating element slidable through said hopper, means for operating said member simultaneouslyv with vthe operation of said bars, means for holding one of said bars stationary in active position, said traybeing mounted for tilting movement, means for tilting said tray, and means actuated by the last mentioned means for. releasing said stationary bar, incident to the tilting of said tray.

5,. A nut cracking machine comprising a` tray, a hopper, means for singly conveying the nuts from the hopper' to said tray, means for operating said bars, said means including a rotatable'shaft, a'cam fixed on said shaft, a connection between one of said bars and saidshaft and mechanism operated by sai-d cam for controlling the movements with the other bar, means for holding `the latter mentionedibar vstationary in an active posiion, Vsaid tray being mounted for tilting movement, means for tilting said tray at predetermined intervals, and means actuatedv 'by the last mentioned means for releasing said bar incident to the tilting of said tray.

6.' A! nut cracking machine including a .en i

tray,A a rock shaft supportingt'he tray for tilting movementa hopper, means for sing- -ly conveying the nuts from the hopper to said tray, nut cracking bar 'capable of movement toward and awayfrom each' otherv to said tray, yieldable means'for normally holding theptravr in a horizontal position, means for operating said bars, means for holding one of said bars `stationary in an active position, means for rocking said shaft to tilt said tray at predetermined intervals, and means actuated by said shaft for releasing said bar incident to the tilting of the tray.

7. A nutcracking machine/comprising a Vtra-y mounted for tilting movement, means for normally holding the tray in a horizontal position, a hopper, means for singly conveying nuts from the hopper to said tray,

"a shaft mounted for rotation, means actuated from: said shaft for moving said bars toward and away from each other, means for rotating said shaft, means for holding one of said bars stationary in active position, means operated from said shaft for tilting said tray, and means actuated by the .last mentioned means for releasing said bar incident to the tilting of said tray.

- 8. A nut cracking machine comprising a tray mounted fortilting movement, means for normally holdingv said trayy in a horizontal position, a hopper,means for singly conveying the nut-s from the hopper to the tray, nut cracking bars movable toward and away from each other through said tray, a shaft mounted for rotation', means for rotating said shaft, means for operating said bars and including a cam carried by said shaft, means .for tilting said tray at predetermined interval-s, and vincluding a second cam carried by said' shaft, means yactuated' by the lastinentioned means for releasing said stationary vbar incident to the tilting of said tray, vand said cams being disposed whereby said tray is tilted just prior to the movement of the bars away from each other. i l

9. A nut cracking machine comprising a tray mounted for tilting movement, means for nomally holding the ltray in a horizontal position, a hopper, nut cracking bars movable toward and away from each other Vtion of the machine, means for tilting said tray at` predetermined intervals, and means actuated by the last mentioned means for l releasing said stationary bar incidentV to the tilting of said tray. Y.

10. A nutV cracking machine comprisinga tray mounted for tilting movement, means forl normally ,holding the tray in a horizontal position, a hopper, means for singly conveying vnuts from thehopper to said tray, nut cracking bars capable of movement toward and away from eachother through said tray, means for holding Vone of said bars stationary in an active' position, a shaft mounted for rotation, means for rotating said shaft, means for operating said bars and including a cam fixed on said shaft, means for tilting said platform at predetermined intervals and including Ya camV mounted on said shaft, means actuated by the last mentioned means for releasing said stationary bar incident to the tilting of said Vplatform, aii agitating member arranged tol reciprocate through the hopper and means including a cam fixed on'saidshaft and having a ing said agitatingv member. v

Y 11. A, nut cracking machine comprising a tray mounted .for'tilting movement, means for normally holding the tray horizontally, a hopper, nut cracking bars movable toward and away from leach other through said tray, a slide valve operating through the hopper to singly conveythe nuts therefrom to said plurality of active surfaces for operatof said `bars to move the latter to an active Y position, yieldable means for returning theV latter mentioned bar tonormal position, na cam fixed on said shaft, a reciprocatory rod actuated by said cam and connected with Vsaid arm to o erate the latter a cushionin 7 Y member arranged in the length of said rod, means for holding one of said bars stationary in an active position, means operated from said shaft for tilting the platform at predetermined intervals, and means actuated by the last mentioned means for releasing said bar incident to the tilting of said plat-v form. i

Y 1n testimony whereof 1 aflix my signature.

AMBROZ DEMEK. 

